Tag: Business Info

This is a decrease of £5.3 billion (19 per cent) compared with last month and a decrease of £1.3 billion (5.6 per cent) compared with January 2015.

Total trade imports for January 2016 are £31.6 billion.

This is an increase of £0.6 billion (1.9 per cent) compared with last month and a decrease of £2.3 billion (6.8 per cent) compared with January 2015.

The UK is a net importer this month, with imports exceeding exports by £9.5 billion.

Following the global economic crisis, UK trade dropped in 2009. Both imports and exports then steadily increased until 2012.

From the start of 2013, imports have remained relatively flat, while exports peaked in Q2 of 2013.

The total export trade for Q4 of 2015 is £77.7 billion, which is a decrease of 4.7 per cent compared with £81.5 billion for Q4 of 2014.

The total import trade for Q4 of 2015 is £104 billion, which is a decrease of 3.4 per cent compared with £107 billion for Q4 of 2014.

There was a trade deficit of £26.0 billion for Q4 of 2015, which is an increase of 0.5 per cent on the £25.9 billion deficit for Q4 of 2014. These values have been strongly influenced by trade in non-monetary gold.

For many years Germany has been our largest trading import partner by value. The USA has been the dominant trading partner for exports for many years.

Mechanical appliances and Motor vehicles have generally been the largest import commodities by value. For exports, Mechanical appliances has also predominantly been the largest valued commodity, but has been surpassed by Precious metals in recent months.

Non-EU Exports for January 2016 are £11.7 billion. This is a decrease of £5.4 billion (32 per cent) compared with last month and a decrease of £0.7 billion (5.5 per cent) compared with January 2015.

Non-EU Imports for January 2016 are £14.7 billion. This is an increase of £0.7 billion (5.2 per cent) compared with last month, and a decrease of £1.9 billion (12 per cent) compared with January 2015.

In Non-EU trade the UK is a net importer this month, with imports exceeding exports by £3.1 billion.

EU Exports for January 2016 are £10.4 billion. This is a small increase of £0.1 billion (1.1 per cent) compared with last month, and a fall of £0.6 billion (5.7 per cent) compared with January 2015.

EU Imports for January 2016 are £16.8 billion. This is a decrease of £0.2 billion (0.9 per cent) compared with last month, and a fall of £0.4 billion (2.2 per cent) compared with January 2015.

In EU trade the UK is a net importer this month, with imports exceeding exports by £6.5 billion.

The proportion of total exports to the EU is 47 per cent in January 2016. Over the past 18 months, this has ranged from 38 per cent to 49 per cent. The proportion of total imports from the EU is 53 per cent in January 2016. Over the same period, this has ranged between 49 per cent and 55 per cent.

Proportion of Total UK Trade with the EU, January 2016 EU exports down 5.7% on January 2015 Non-EU exports decreased 32% on last month EU imports down 2.2% on January 2015 Non-EU imports down 12% on January 2015 4 Exports Country

UK exports to top 10 partner countries,

USA

Germany

Switzerland

France

Netherlands

Irish Republic

China

Belgium

Italy

Spain

The ordering of the top ten export partner countries (ranked by value) has changed compared with both last month and January 2015. Most notably, China has fallen to seventh place.

Six of the top ten countries have experienced decreases in value compared with last month.

Seven countries have shown a decrease compared with January 2015.

The USA is the largest export partner country despite experiencing the largest value decrease compared with January 2015, down £512 million (15 per cent). It also saw a large value decrease compared with last month, down £448 million (13 per cent).

Switzerland experienced the largest value decrease compared with last month, falling by £2,404 million (56 per cent). Top export country, USA, down 15% on January 2015 Switzerland exports down 56% on last month 5

Germany experienced the largest value increase compared with last month, up by £409 million (20 per cent).

China saw the second largest value decrease compared with last month, a fall of £564 million (37 per cent). It also experienced the largest value increase compared with January 2015, up by £150 million (18 per cent).

UK exports to top 5 countries, January 2016

The USA accounted for 13 per cent of the total value of exports from the UK compared with 15 per cent in January 2015.

Germany has the second largest proportion of total exports, accounting for 11 per cent, which is consistent with previous months.

The top five export partners account for 45 per cent of total exports this month compared with 46 per cent in January 2015. Germany exports up 20% on last month USA accounts for 13% of total UK exports China exports down 37% on last month 6

UK exports by top 5 commodities, January 2016

Mechanical appliances

Motor vehicles

Precious metals

Pharmaceutical products

Electronic equipment

The ordering of the top five export commodities (ranked by value) has changed slightly compared with both last month and January 2015.

Mechanical appliances is the largest export commodity by value, accounting for 14 per cent of total exports. The commodity experienced the second largest value decrease compared with January 2015, down £263 million (7.7 per cent). It also saw a large value decrease compared with last month, down £301 million (8.7 per cent).

Precious metals saw the largest value decrease compared with last month, a fall of £3,195 million (56 per cent).

Motor vehicles saw the largest value increase compared with January 2015, up £202 million (8.3 per cent).

Mineral fuels saw the largest decrease compared with January 2015, falling by £518 million (31 per cent).

The top five export commodities account for 51 per cent of total UK trade exports compared with 50 per cent in January 2015. Mechanical appliances exports down 8.7% on last month Precious metals exports down 56% on last month Mineral fuels exports down 31% on January 2015 Motor vehicles exports up 8.3% on January 2015 7 Combined Commodity and Country

UK exports to EU & Non-EU by top 5 commodities, January 2016

Mechanical appliances, Motor vehicles, Electronic equipment and Pharmaceutical products are in the top five commodities for both EU and non-EU countries.

The fall in exports of Precious metals compared with last month was led by decreases in trade to Switzerland, down £2,216 million (59 per cent). Exports of the commodity also saw large decreases to China and Hong Kong compared with last month, falls of £509 million (98 per cent) and £342 million (50 per cent) respectively.

The fall in exports to the USA compared with both last month and January 2015 was led by a decrease of Pharmaceutical products, down by £179 million (35 per cent) and £273 million (45 per cent) respectively.

The decrease in exports of Mechanical appliances compared with January 2015 was led by decreases to the USA, down £102 million (16 per cent), Japan, down £97 million (66 per cent) and the United Arab Emirates, down £86 million (34 per cent).

The decrease in exports of Mineral fuels compared with January 2015 was led by decreases to the Irish Republic, down £147 million (64 per cent), Germany, down £139 million (50 per cent) and South Korea, down £134 million (a twofold decrease). However, exports to China experienced contrasting increases compared with both last month and January 2015, rises of £110 million (a threefold increase) and £174 million (up from £3.7 million) respectively. Exports of Precious metals to Switzerland down 59% on last month Exports of Pharmaceutical products to the USA down 35% on last month Exports of Mineral fuels to the Irish Republic down 64% on January 2015 8 Imports Country

UK imports from top 10 countries,

Germany

China

Netherlands

USA

France

Belgium

Italy

Spain

Norway

Irish Republic

The ordering of the top ten import partners (ranked by value) has remained relatively stable compared with both last month and January 2015.

Six of the top ten import partners decreased in value compared with last month. Seven of the top ten decreased in value compared with January 2015.

Imports from Germany experienced the largest value decrease compared with January 2015, falling by £480 million (10 per cent). Top import country, Germany, down 10% on January 2015 9

China saw the largest value increase compared with last month, rising by £397 million (14 per cent).

The Irish Republic experienced the largest value decrease compared with last month, down £305 million (24 per cent).

Belgium saw the largest value increase compared with January 2015, up by £234 million (16 per cent).

The USA experienced the second largest value decrease compared with January 2015, falling by £389 million (14 per cent).

UK imports from top 5 countries, January 2016

Germany accounts for 14 per cent of the total value of imports to the UK. The share of the market was consistent with previous months.

China has the second largest proportion of total imports, accounting for 10 per cent, this was an increase in market share from 9.6 per cent compared with January 2015.

The top five partner countries account for 45 per cent of total UK import value this month, this share of the market was the same compared with January 2015. Imports from China up 14% on last month Imports from USA down 14% on January 2015 China accounts for 10% of total UK imports for this month

UK imports by top 5 commodities, January 2016

Mechanical appliances

Motor vehicles

Electronic equipment

Mineral fuels

Pharmaceutical products

Three of the top five commodity groups increased in import value compared with last month with their rank by value remaining the same compared with last month.

Mechanical appliances was the top import commodity by value, accounting for a 13 per cent share of the total. The commodity experienced the second largest increase compared with last month, up by £255 million (6.5 per cent).

Motor vehicles saw the largest increase by value compared with both last month and January 2015, rises of £531 million (15 per cent) and £283 million (7.4 per cent) respectively.

Aircraft experienced the largest decrease by value compared with last month, a fall of £336 million (36 per cent).

Precious metals saw the largest decrease by value compared with January 2015, down £1,022 million (46 per cent).

Mineral fuels experienced the second largest decrease by value compared with January 2015, down by £864 million (30 per cent).

Pharmaceutical products saw the second largest increase compared with January 2015, up by £224 million (13 per cent).

The top five import commodities account for 49 per cent of total UK trade imports for this month, this share of the market was the same compared with January 2015. Top import commodity, Mechanical appliances, up 6.5% on last month Mineral fuels imports down 30% on January 2015 Motor vehicles imports up 15% on last month Precious metals imports down 46% on January 2015 11 Combined Commodity and Country Analysis

UK imports to EU & Non-EU by top 5 commodities, January 2016

Mechanical appliances, Electronic equipment and Motor vehicles are in the top five commodities for both EU and non-EU countries.

The decrease in imports from Germany compared with last month was led by a fall in Aircraft, down by £126 million (83 per cent).

The increase in imports of Mechanical appliances compared with last month, was led by China, up £65 million (14 per cent) and the USA, up £52 million (10 per cent). Imports of the commodity saw a decrease from Germany compared with January 2015, down £84 million (12 per cent).

The increase in imports of Motor vehicles compared with last month, was led by Spain and Japan, rises of £167 million (58 per cent) and £110 million (65 per cent) respectively. The increase in imports of this commodity compared with January 2015 was led by Belgium, up £221 million (82 per cent).

The increase in imports of Pharmaceutical products compared with last month was led by rises from the Netherlands and Germany, up £152 million (66 per cent) and £135 million (55 per cent) respectively.

The decrease in imports of Mineral fuels compared with January 2015 was led by a fall from Algeria, down £135 million (76 per cent).

The decrease in imports of Precious metals compared with January 2015 was led by falls from Canada, South Africa, the USA and Switzerland, down £274 million (36 per cent), £243 million (95 per cent), £166 million (70 per cent) and £150 million (63 per cent) respectively. Aircraft imports from Germany down 83% on last month Imports of Pharmaceutical products from the Netherlands up 66% on last month Mechanical appliances imports from China up 14% on last month